Circular faceplate for door latches



Sept. 25, 1962 J. KESSEL CIRCULAR FACEPLATE FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed NOV. 5, 1959 JOHN KESSEL INVENTOR United States Patent 3,055,691 CIRCULAR FACEPLATE FOR DOOR LATCHES John Kessel, 2522 College SE., Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed Nov. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 851,161 2 Claims. (Cl. 292-337 This invention relates to the construction of door latches, and particularly to the relationship of the face plate to the door and to the case of the latch mechanism. In conventional latch construction, the sliding bolt projects through an opening in a plate that must be set into the edge of the door in the manner of an inlay in order to present a flush and unobstructed surface. The cost of the plate is considerable, and the time consumed in installing it is a substantial part of the total time required to install the latch mechanism.

The tubular outer portion of th conventional case of a latch mechanism is normally cylindrical, and is positioned in a suitable bore in the edge of the door. The present invention provides a closure for the latch case which serves the function of a front plate, and yet re quires no recessing of the edge of the door. This closure member is in the nature of a capcovering over the otherwise open end of the latch case, and has a bevelled peripheral flange tapering inward to reduced diameter, with the major diameter of the flange forming a forced fit in the bore of the door which contains the forward portion of the latch case. The cap also includes a transverse portion in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of sliding movement of the bolt, and which is provided with an opening receiving the bolt in sliding relationship. The flange serves to displace the irregularities resulting from the machining of the bore in the material of the door, and presents a smooth appearance when it is installed. The cylindrical peripheral surface of the cap is preferably knurled in order to maintain the angular position of the cap with respect to the axis of the bolt. As the mechanism is installed through the bore in the edge of the door, the closure cap may be rotated to establish the desired orientation of the bolt, and then driven into assembled position in the bore to permanently establish this selected position. In so doing, the orientation of the mechanism is also established to receive the knob shaft.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in further detail through a discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 presents a sectional plan view of the forward portion of a latch and the edge of the door, with the bolt in the projected position and the closure member fully installed.

FIGURE 2 presents a perspective view of the closure member.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the preferred form of a tool useful in establishing the angular position of the closure member with respect to the door on installation.

Referring to the drawing, the cylindrical forward portion of a latch case is shown installed in a bore 11 in the edge 12 of a wooden door 13. The case 10 is provided with a pair of opposite openings 14 and 15 for receiving the detents 16 and 17 on the closure cap 13 illustrated in FIGURE 2. The cylindrical periphery of the closure member 18 is knurled as shown at 19 and 20 to bite into the material of the door, and to assure a firm fit without requiring excessively close tolerances.

The outer portion of the closure member includes a transverse plate section 21 having an opening 22 shaped to receive the bolt 23 in sliding relationship. The axial position of the bolt is controlled by the mechanism associated with the stem 24. The angular position of the bolt about its axis is selected according to the direction of closing movement of the door, and this selection is made by the installation of the cap 18.

The closure member 18 includes a peripheral flange 25 surrounding the transverse plate section 21 which tapers inwardly to reduced diameter to establish a forced fit at the entrance of the bore 11 to eliminate the usual irregularities caused by machining the bore. The presence of the knurled areas 19 and 20 moving in advance of the flange 25 on the installation of the closure member has the ellect of preparing th material at the edge of the door for receiving the flange 25 so that somewhat less pressure is required in the case of a relatively tight fit.

To properly orient the bolt 23 (and the latch case) about its axis of sliding movement, a tool such as is shown in FIGURE 3 is recommended. This tool includes a plate 26 having an opening 27 formed to receive the cross-section of the bolt 23. The thickness of the plate is sufficient to establish a depth of the recess 27 to pro vide an adequate grip on the bolt for properly positioning it. The edges 28 and 29 of the plate 26 may be used as reference surfaces so that they may be lined up with the edge of the door to establish the proper position of the bolt, and also that of the closure member 18 and the latch case. When this position has been properly estab lished, forces can be applied to the handle 30 with a hammer to drive the closure member into its finally installed position shown in FIGURE 1.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a latch mechanism having a cylindrical tubular outer case portion and a bolt slideably mounted therein, a closure member for said case portion including a cylindrical section surrounding said case portion, and having axial knurling on substantially the entire periphery thereof adapting said closure member to be driven axially into an opening, said closure member having a transverse plate portion provided with a bolt-receiving opening therein positioning said bolt about the axis thereof, said closure member also having a bevelled annular flange with a larger base thereof coplanar with the outer surface of said transverse plate portion and substantially equal in diameter to an annular surface circumscribing said axial knurling.

2. In combination with a latch mechanism having a cylindrical tubular outer case portion and a bolt slideably mounted therein, a closure member for said case portion including a cylindrical section surrounding said case portion, and having axial knurling on substantially the entire periphery thereof adapting said closure member to be driven axially into an opening, said closure member having a transverse plate portion provided with a bolt-receiving opening therein, said closure member also having a beveled annular flange having a large base and a small base with the large base thereof disposed outwardly with respect to said latch mechanism and located at the periphery of said plate portion, said axial knurling, said small base, and said large base being related such that an annular surface circumscribing said axial knurling has a diameter exceeding that of said small base and not exceeding that of said large base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schilling May 5, 1874 Hendricks July 18, 1876 Hollenbeck Feb. 1, 1887 Voight July 27, 1909 Bachmann Apr. 15, 1924 Becker et al June 11, 1935 Cook et al Sept. 8, 1936 Schlage Sept. 5, 1944 Hillgren Nov. 22, 1960 

